Book Review: The Wives by Valerie Keogh

Rating: 2 Stars

As someone who eagerly dives into psychological thrillers, I was excited to pick up The Wives by Valerie Keogh. The premise seemed promising: Natasha, seemingly having it all with her rich and charming husband Daniel, discovers that their perfect life is built on a shaky foundation of lies and secrets. An enticing cruise with friends and their husbands quickly morphs into a dangerous game where everyone has a motive against Daniel. The book promises a gripping plot that should keep you on the edge of your seat.

However, as I sailed through the pages, I found myself stranded in disappointment. The narrative setup was intriguing, with its promise of suspense and drama. Unfortunately, the execution left much to be desired. My biggest hurdle was the characters, each more unlikable than the last. Natasha, who should have been a compelling protagonist caught in a web of deceit, felt flat and difficult to empathize with. Her friends and their husbands didn't fare much better. Instead of rooting for them or feeling invested in their fates, I was mostly detached and frustrated.

The storyline had potential, especially with the revelations and twists that are essential in a thriller. But instead of surprising or thrilling me, the plot twists felt predictable and somewhat forced. There was a lack of depth that made it hard for me to stay engaged. Instead of being drawn into the mystery, I found myself skimming through sections, hoping for something more substantial to latch onto.

Overall, while The Wives had an intriguing concept, it ultimately fell flat for me. The characters were hard to connect with, and the suspense that should have driven the narrative was lacking. It's a two-star read for me—perhaps others might find it more thrilling, but it just didn't hit the mark for this avid thriller fan.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

"The Wives" by Valerie Keogh is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the complex and dark facets of marriage and trust. The novel masterfully unravels a tale of suspense, mystery, and unexpected revelations that keep the readers hooked.

At the heart of the story is Susan, a woman who seemingly has it all—a successful career, a loving husband, and a comfortable life. However, beneath the surface is a world of secrets and lies that begins to unravel when she discovers her husband, James, has been living a double life. The revelation that James has another wife, Alice, shatters Susan's world and sets off a chain of events that plunge her into a web of deception and danger.

Valerie Keogh skillfully crafts a narrative that alternates between Susan's perspective and Alice's, providing a deep and nuanced exploration of their emotions, motivations, and the psychological impact of betrayal. The characters are well-developed and believable, each grappling with their own inner demons and vulnerabilities.

The plot is tightly woven, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. Keogh's ability to build suspense is exceptional, as she gradually unveils the layers of deceit and the true nature of the characters involved. The pacing is perfect, with a steady build-up of tension that culminates in a thrilling and satisfying climax.

One of the standout elements of the novel is its exploration of the themes of trust, loyalty, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their secrets. Keogh deftly portrays the emotional turmoil and moral dilemmas faced by the characters, making their struggles relatable and compelling.

"The Wives" is a captivating and thought-provoking thriller that will leave you questioning the nature of trust and the complexities of human relationships. Valerie Keogh has delivered a masterful and unforgettable story.

This novel is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted tale of suspense and intrigue.

What a great read with twists and turns, secrets revealed. Interesting characters and how they interacted. Would recommend this book

When Natasha meets charismatic Daniel, it's a whirlwind romance and marriage. Shortly after their wedding, Daniel books them and Natasha's three best friends and their husbands on a plush cruise. When a murderer strikes, everyone has their reasons to kill, but who did finally break?

I found the book quite predictable, but also didn't like a single character so actually didn't care what happened. I genuinely couldn't figure out why the group were friends, none of them were nice! I did however like the descriptions of the cruise and of the ship, and I enjoyed the fast pace, but it didn't feel suspenseful as I worked out who had done it and why. Not my favourite by this author, but I will look out for more.

This was an enjoyable read and I really hope that there will be a second book to follow on from this one. Loved the character building and the ending was surprising.

Another great story from Valerie Keogh! This story had me guessing all the way through. I did feel that it was a little slow to start but once I got into it I struggled to put it down. I was not expecting the ending!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGally for the eARC! A twisty whodunit story filled with lies from the characters! I didn't see the ending coming- I knew someone was going to kill the main character but I didnt expect how it was done!

Valerie Keogh has a knack for keeping readers engaged and The Wives is a perfect example. Her writing kept me engaged throughout even though the characters never seemed realistic or likable. Four women, best friends for years, travel on a cruise together with their husbands, three of the couples having been invited by the new groom. As secrets are revealed division between the friends as well as their spouses continue to snowball until a death brings things to a head. Events are at times are seemingly implausible but Keogh’s writing kept me totally engaged.
Many thanks to Net Galley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of The Wives.

I've noticed lately that cruise ships seem to be the place to kill kith or kin and leave no trail. Too many people breathing the same air. These four couples come together on a tropical cruise to prove to each other how lucky they are and gossip, gossip, gossip. But when the bodies start dropping, friendships disappear and suspicions multiply quickly. The tension mounts and the couples learn exactly how close they are.

This was a good thriller and perfect for summer/holiday reading.

I love Valerie Keogh’s books and this one was enjoyable. Felt it slow down a bit towards the end but still kept me entertained.

Thank you NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

An enjoyable thriller which is quite fast paced. This is told in multiple perspectives and kept me guessing on the various motivations. A light read for the holidays.

Thank you Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

This Christmas inspired flatlay features The Wives by Valerie Keogh a mystery-suspense novel set on a cruise!

This story follows four middle aged women, Natasha the FMC, and her three friends, Michele, Tracy Ann and Barbara, who head out on a cruise with their husbands. While the chapters alternate between characters, the narration does not change, so the story is quite easy to follow, you're not constantly trying to remember who is talking! The group of 4 couples head out on a cruise together on the coast of Africa, and have mixed feelings about spending the week together, specifically when it comes to Natasha's cocky and outgoing husband, Daniel. As the story progresses it becomes clear that all of the women (including Natasha) and their husbands are not the biggest fans of Daniel, in fact, there might be a few among the group who wouldn't mind if he happened to not make it until the end of the cruise....

It is a pretty easy and light read that is perfect for anyone heading off on a vacation this holiday break! It is not scary or super suspense-filled, more of a "who did it?" kind of slow reveal. There was a fair amount of storytelling in the last chapters and epilogue though, so it really does come down to the last bit to wrap things up. Overall, a decent book that falls somewhere between beach read and suspense/thriller. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher, Boldwood, for giving me a chance to read and review this book!

Thank you Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Valerie Keogh for the eARC of The Wives.

A group of friends take a boat trip and that can only mean one thing?! Secrets, jealousy and unlikeable characters! It took me a little while to engage in the narrative which was probably just me feeling distracted but once engaged, I really enjoyed The Wives.

In these psychological thrillers, you usually get a mixture of likeable and unlikeable characters, in this one. I didn't like any of them. They were so horrible to each other, you wonder what keeps them together. You definitely find out which makes for a compelling read.

3.75 stars for story graph, 4 stars for other reviewing sites.

I really enjoyed the prospect of this story. I love a plot with lots of interlinking secrets twists and turns. However I found this story lacking in the latter part of the novel. I found the set up in the first half really interesting but unfortunately I felt let down by the second half.
I think it could have been expanded on and the twists could of taken a little bit more to come out.

It was a ok paced book with an easy to read writing style overall.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed The Wives. It started a bit slow, but picked up throughout the story. The wives were hard to like, all of them with some un admirable quality in competition with each other. And all for the wrong reasons! But this is what made the story interesting and sucked me in. I had to know what secrets Daniel was hiding because he definitely was not the perfect man he portrayed himself to be. But as more and more twists came into play, the story became more interesting. And the ending was quite a surprise for me!

***Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC copy in return for an honest review***

Well this was a very dark tale about jealously and betrayal and how sometimes if something seems too good to be true it is probably best to avoid. In the case of these friends no one is being completely honest with each other and as Tasha settles for the perfect man why are her friends so against the marriage and why is the dream holiday they are all going on a really bad idea. Can you trust those closest to you.

The plot was intense, and the stakes kept getting higher. Every twist felt earned and added to the story’s gripping tension, honestly could barely breathe through half of it, such a good book.

I found it difficult not to take a dislike to the wives in this story: they are all self-serving and I could not believe that they considered themselves as “friends” with one another. Heading off on an all-expenses-paid cruise, courtesy of Natasha’s husband, it’s an opportunity for the four couples to spend some times together. Except it is apparent that this group do not have the tight-knit friendship you would expect.

Keogh tells the story largely from Natasha’s perspective. We quickly learn that Natasha has fallen into a loveless marriage that she is determined to keep going for the sake of the pre-nup. I found her character the most interesting of all as Keogh explores how traumatised Natasha has become since working for the NHS during the helpless times of Covid. It is like she is suffering from PTSD and her marriage to Daniel is her way of escaping this reminder of all the people she could not help during the pandemic.

However, I soon found that I struggled to keep the other three women separated. They all have some sort of vendetta against Natasha or Daniel and they are all linked in some way that remains a secret from each other. This was one of my biggest criticisms of the book: most of the wives felt too similar and I struggled to connect with their identities. It is like Keogh was playing on some sort of “desperate housewives” theme and this made the characterisation feel a bit tired and overused.

As the novel progressed, I started to experience cabin fever. I don’t think the novel was particularly pacey and I guessed the ending far too early on for my liking (with the exception of the surprising Epilogue). Consequently, I read the latter half of the novel quite impatiently, hoping the big reveal would come sooner rather than later. Instead, I was frustrated by the chatter, the digs between the wives and the slow amount of time it took to reveal the truth. I was hoping for a punchier story but I don’t think Keogh quite delivers it here.

In the end, I thought the story started to get a bit silly. I found Daniel’s demise to be incredibly intense – you need a pretty strong constitution at this point! – but I didn’t fully believe in the plot development. It was a rather slow story on the whole and none of the women are presented as particularly pleasant. In my opinion, they are all some sort of victim, but I think they could have worked harder at being a better friend.

I’ve read many, many books by this author and usually find her writing to be gripping and suspenseful. In this instance, it was not the case and this book was definitely not a more favourite read.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A friend group of four couples. Sprinkle in some secrets and lies. Then send them off on a cruise together - what could possibly go wrong?

This one was filled with so many twists and turns I felt a bit whiplashy! But loved it.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Told in alternating points of view, this book tells the story of four wives reconnecting on a vacation cruise with their spouses. However, things take a turn when one of the husbands end up dead.

I didn't particularly like any of the Wives, which made reading this book difficult - it's hard to empathize with any character when you can't emotionally connect to them. So many pages were dedicated to the drama between The Wives - it read like an episode of Real Housewives, which for me is not a positive comparison.

If you love drama with a touch of mystery, this one is for you.